Distinct Electrogram Features and Ventricular Arrhythmia Induction Modes Between Repolarization and Conduction Heterogeneities.

BACKGROUND

Recent clinical studies have indicated the presence of localized electrical abnormalities in idiopathic ventricular fibrillation and J-wave syndrome patients.

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to characterize the specific electrical signatures of localized repolarization and conduction heterogeneities and their respective role in vulnerability to arrhythmias.

METHODS

Optical mapping was performed in porcine right ventricles with local: 1) repolarization shortening; 2) conduction slowing; or 3) structural heterogeneity induced by locally perfusing: 1) pinacidil (20 μmol/L, n = 13); or 2) flecainide (2 μmol/L, n = 13) via an epicardial catheter; or 3) by local epicardial tissue destruction (9 radiofrequency lesions n = 12). Electrograms were recorded (n = 5 in each group) and spontaneous and induced arrhythmias were quantified and optically mapped.

RESULTS

Electrograms were normal in (1) but showed local fragmentation in 40% of preparations in (2) with greater effects observed at high pacing frequencies dependent on the wavefront direction. In (3), the structural substrate alone increased the width and number of peaks in the electrograms, and addition of flecainide induced pronounced fragmentation (≥3 peaks and ≥70 ms) in all cases. Occurrence of spontaneous arrhythmias was significantly increased in (1) and (2) (P < 0.0001 and 0.05, respectively, vs baseline) and were triggered by ectopies. Vulnerability to arrhythmias at high pacing frequencies (≥2 Hz) was the lowest in (1) and greatest in (2).

CONCLUSIONS

Microstructural substrates have the most pronounced impact on electrograms, especially when combined with sodium channel blockers, whereas local action potential duration shortening does not lead to electrogram fragmentation even though it is associated with the highest prevalence of spontaneous arrhythmias.

Informations de copyright

Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts

Funding Support and Author Disclosures This study received financial support from the French Government as part of the “Investments of the Future” program managed by the National Research Agency (ANR-10-IAHU04-LIRYC). It was funded by the Leducq-Foundation (RHYTHM network, 16CVD02), the Fondation Coeur et Artères (FC17T2), and the European Research Council (ERC-2021-ADG 101054717). All authors have reported that they have no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose.